A scintillating ton from Matt Wade could not save Australia from a 135-run loss last night in the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval.
Wade strode to the crease shouldering enormous pressure for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the score was 3-56 and England were surging. Secondly, Australia were facing a monumental run chase to win their first Ashes series in the UK since 2001. Thirdly, his Test career was on the line – fail and he may never again play for Australia.
Superstar Steve Smith fell soon after, leaving Australia 4-85. From there it had to be Wade – he was the only remaining Aussie batsman with the talent to be able to produce something extraordinary. He proceeded to do just that. The Tasmanian began batting with the daring and decisiveness that earnt him selection in this series.
The left-hander imposed himself on bowlers at lower levels to earn an Ashes recall but has too often retreated into his shell at key moments in this series. When he’s backed himself to take on the English bowlers typically it has gone well.
Wade’s 110 in the first Test came at a rollicking strike of 77 as he unfurled his full array of strokes. Last night he again went after the England bowlers. He used his feet well to spinner Jack Leach and drove, cut and pulled beautifully against the quicks.
(Ishara S Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images)
The highlight of the evening was Wade’s intense and bizarre battle with England pace prodigy Jofra Archer. As Wade neared his ton, Archer lost his cool. He peppered the Aussie with bouncers and sledges and repeatedly walked down the pitch after bowling to stand right in front of Wade, who was jawing away as usual. It was odd, it was theatrical and it was riveting.
Australia will be justifiably delighted with having retained the Ashes in the UK for the first time since 2001, while England secured a consolation victory at the end of what has been a very long and draining UK summer.
Many of the key players from both teams have been engaged in high-stakes international cricket for the past 15 weeks solid. The likes of Pat Cummins, Smith, David Warner, Nathan Lyon, Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes and Archer have been going almost non-stop since the World Cup began on 30 May.
Both teams have experienced emotional highs in that time. England claimed the World Cup trophy after the most extraordinary final in the tournament’s history, ending a long drought and capping four years of dedication to that task.
Australia, meanwhile, overcame the most torrid period in their modern history to go 2-1 up in this series at Old Trafford and retain The Urn.
The Aussies looked deflated in this Test, as if they had already conquered the summit. England, meanwhile, performed like a team smarting from their failure to regain the Ashes on home soil. They were more focused, more energetic and more clinical, particularly in the field.
While Australia produced their worst fielding effort in recent memory, turfing a slew of chances, England pulled off a sequence of brilliant catches. That included the sharp diving take last night by Ben Stokes which killed off any slim hope of an Australian win.
That Stokes grab came after Australian talisman Smith tucked a Stuart Broad delivery off his hip in the direction of leg gully. Earlier, openers Marcus Harris and David Warner had failed yet again. Warner has had an astoundingly poor series yet will almost certainly survive thanks to his remarkable home record in Tests. Harris, though, has been just as bad as Warner yet doesn’t have the same credits in the bank. Averaging 24 with the bat after 17 Test innings, there would be no sense in retaining Harris for Australia’s next Test series ahead of the likes of Joe Burns or Usman Khawaja.
The failures of Harris and Warner last night again heaped responsibility on Smith and inexperienced first drop Marnus Labuschagne. The young Queenslander has been a revelation in this series, continually flourishing under enormous pressure and against quality bowling.
Yesterday he again looked good until being undone by a lovely piece of flight by Jack Leach and some razor-sharp keeping from Bairstow. Leach has showed great signs in this series, operating with nice loop and nagging accuracy, and should get a long run in the England side. He deserved his figures of 4-49 last night, while Stuart Broad (4-62) was also excellent.
England and Australia both face major selection issues as they head into their next Test series. England will travel to New Zealand while Australia host Pakistan.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Wade came out, played his natural game, the game that got him there in the first place, and he flourished. .. Is there a lesson in that for David Warner? Too much nicey, nicey methinks. Dave is at his best when he's a belligerent little villian that everyone bar his mum hates. .. anyway, all water under the bridge now. It's Pakistan next I believe. I'd keep Wade for that one. He's done enough to earn a crack on home soil imo.
Bruce
Guest
Wade's definitely got some fight in him. He came out in very difficult conditions given the game situation, pressure on his place in the squad, and an England side out to sledge him. He stood pretty tall for the team (noting the next highest score was 24 or so).
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Agree, not a great series by any stretch, but in context of a bowlers series and being selected as a reward for the selectors desired domestic form criteria, it's a pass mark.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
Yawn of the Dead, That went a bit over my ashes.
Yawn of the Dead
Guest
if we are going to be fair, i would like an interpretation of the Hughes number. so many tings against him.
Yawn of the Dead
Guest
PS I guess that passes for a General sort of apology?
Yawn of the Dead
Guest
The General, dead, buried but not cremated...?
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
Lawrence, Keep up your PDS. You will have to suffer from it for the next few months, so you had better get used to it.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
Clearly - would've been good to get more first innings output. Series stats of 337 at 33.7 aren't good enough normally - and 2 centuries means most of those runs in 2 hits. I just wanted to point out that he had 4 significant scores - (all in 2nd innings). As it was - the conditions were hardly such that the 2nd innings was played on an easy road. The Dukes balls in particular always kept the bowlers 'interested' and certainly the English had some pretty good plans to our left handers and executed very well. Definitely Smith got a massive pass mark; Labuschagne in normal circumstances you might give a B+, because he never did manage to convert to a century - - but; you can't use Australian conditions as your guide. In the relativity of this series Labuschagne probably returns an 'A' or at least 'A-'mark. Avg of 50 is super under the circumstances. Wade - 3rd most runs for Australia down at 6 and then 5. The thing I still ponder - - was he trying to be too disciplined? Perhaps we needed him to take the game on a bit more?? But that's easy to say in hindsight.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Happy to give him more than a small nod Insult, but I just think some context needs to be applied. Usually a guy that scored two centuries in a series has had a great series, but when you look at Wade's performances, I really don't think "great" would describe it... anywho, rant over.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
A Test century is a Test century. Just a small nod would suffice. If he'd made 5 you'd have had him in past players parade by today. Whatifs are all very well, but his contribution is the partnership most Aussies wanted to support Smith in any innings. Shame Smith missed out!
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
That's the way, we want carbon cut outs. There's no room for individuals in sport, especially those who beat opponents mentally.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
True, the players 'decide'.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
qwetzen, Yes I said I would not post on this site, but still intended to read the comments. After reading the rubbish some like you have posted felt I had to say something. It will be short as I will not be that interested in cricket till the tests start again. I cannot stand the hit and hope and of T20 cricket. Oh and thanks for the sexual reference comment, really appreciated.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
Yawn of the Dead, "Paine got one thing right in the campaign". Wow, I must have been dreaming for a month and a half. We didn't retain the ashes, I am in mourning.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Gak! "all bets are off"? This could destroy cricket in the sub-continent...
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
TheVenereal, don't know how you arrived at that conclusion. Apple Maps perhaps? But anyway, don't let me hold you up on your way back to isolation ward. "There I have had my long rant, and I swear this is the last post." TheGeneral, about 20 posts ago.
Cari
Roar Rookie
How wonderful we can all be in retrospect where heroes are made for one week and complete idiots two weeks later. Cricket has an annoying habit of raising two fingers at Pundits, Pro Selectors and amateur selectors. I suppose that’s why we follow it, it’s an unfolding drama which keeps us watching as the actors take their place on the stage and all bets are off.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Wade will always be chirpy but as long as he steers clear of anything abusive or personal I don't have an issue with it. The stuff between him and Head about who Jofra was playing for in the next BBL was fine.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Good question. Paine indicated that he completely misread the pitch. I can't help but wonder though if Smith being crook had anything to do with it.